MANILLA. 
289 
thousand two hundred and eighty piculs, and in 1S41, only sixty-two 
thousand seven hundred piculs; its value in Manilla is about three 
hundred thousand dollars. Twenty thousand piculs go to Europe. 
There are no duties on its exportation. 
That which is brought to the United States is principally manufac¬ 
tured in or near Boston, and is the cordage known as “ white rope.” 
The cordage manufactured at Manilla is, however, very superior to 
the rope made with us, although the hemp is of the inferior kind. A 
large quantity is also manufactured into mats. 
In the opinion of our botanist, it is not probable that the plant could 
be introduced with success into our country, for in the Philippines it is 
not found north of latitude 14° N. 
The coffee-plant is well adapted to these islands. A few plants were 
introduced into the gardens of Manilla, about fifty years ago, since 
which time it has been spread all over the island, as is supposed by the 
civet-cats, which, after swallowing the seeds, carry them to a distance 
before they are voided. 
The coffee of commerce is obtained here from the wild plant, and is 
of an excellent quality. Upwards of three thousand five hundred piculs 
are now exported, of which one-sixth goes to the United States. 
The sugar-cane thrives well here. It is planted after the French 
fashion, by sticking the piece diagonally into the ground. Some, finding 
the cane has suffered in times of drought, have adopted other modes. It 
comes to perfection in a year, and they seldom have two crops from the 
same piece of land, unless the season is very favourable. 
There are many kinds of cane cultivated, but that grown in the 
valley of Pampanga is thought to be the best. It is a small red variety, 
from four to five feet high, and not thicker than the thumb. The manu¬ 
facture of the sugar is rudely conducted ; and the whole business, I was 
told, was in the hands of a few capitalists, who, by making advances, 
secure the whole crop from those who are employed to bring it to 
market. It is generally brought in moulds, of the usual conical shape, 
called pilones, which are delivered to the purchaser from November to 
June, and contain each about one hundred and fifty pounds. On their 
receipt, they are placed in large storehouses, where the familiar opera¬ 
tion of claying is performed. The estimate for the quantity of sugar 
from these pilones after this process is about one hundred pounds; it 
depends upon the care taken in the process. 
Of cotton they raise a considerable quantity, which is of a fine 
quality, and principally of the yellow nankeen. In the province of 
Ylocos it is cultivated most extensively. The mode of cleaning it of 
its seed is very rude, by means of a hand-mill, and the expense of 
Z 37 
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